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The Centre has set up a high-level committee to review various environmental laws.
According to an environment ministry note, the panel, headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian, will review the Environment Protection Act of 1986, Forest Conservation Act of 1980, Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, Water Act of 1974 and Air Act of 1981. The committee will suggest how to amend these Acts "in line with current requirements" within two months, it said.
The panel will also examine various court orders related to these laws.
The ministry has eased coal production expansion norms "to quickly ramp up coal production for enhancing power generation".
The ministry has exempted public hearing for coal mining projects with production capacity exceeding 20 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). The project proponent can expand output up to six mtpa. This is the third time that the National Democratic Alliance government has eased rules for coal mining.
The Centre had done away with the requirement of public hearing for coal mines below 16 mtpa, in a bid to expand output by up to 50 per cent. Later, this was extended to mines above 16 mtpa, permitting them to mine up to five mtpa or more without consulting the affected people.
